Expert: Bodhicitta - 10/18/2004

Question
Your answers help me a great deal! This is my last question. You mention contemplation. Where can I find contemplation "topics" so that I may practice this on my own? Is there a book similar to the Bible or Torah etc. that guides a Buddhist in "prayer"/meditation/contemplation?

Thank you,
Amanda
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Followup To
Question -
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Followup To
Question -
What exactly is meant by "attachment"? Is great love for other people in one's life considered a form of attachment? How does Buddhism address mourning the death of a loved one?

Also, how can I learn to find comfort in rebirth? I was raised Christian and am used to the "sunny" idea of heaven.
Answer -
Hi Amanda
Thanks for those questions.
Such a lot of questions in so short a message!

For attachment read desire or desire attachment.We are said to be in the world of desire - we are al held here in
a common world because we all have attachment a crude confused grasping for what appears. Grasping pulling things towards us, appropriating them for ego...like in lord of the rings with the creature golum - "precious its all mine...". Hatred is another confused aspect or behaviour of the mind which tries to push everything away.

Love isnt a problem as such. Metta in Buddhism. Metta is love that isnt attached. its a pure spontaneous perfect love that really links into a true connection between beings. Attachment love is all desire and all about me, its
a selfish love. i think we can recognise the difference just from our day to day relationships.

If we lose a loved one, if they die. we can continue to feel love for them a feeling that we hope that they have what ever is good for them. if we believe in rebirth we might hope that they have a good rebirth where they can
continue to move towards realizing the truth.we might also
feel that our true heart connection with that person is indestructible and that death is just part of the illusory nature of the confused world.

im not quite sure what you mean by "sunny" heaven. Buddhists arent great advocates of heaven so im not quite sure what you mean?

Bodhicitta


Christians are promised that they will spend eternity in heaven...a place that is free of suffering, filled with light and beauty as long as they have lived a "good, Christian life". So, upon a loved-one's death, mourners are comforted by the fact that their loved-one is in a better place...This is what I meant when I said "sunny".

I've only been reading about Buddhism for a couple of years now but I'm under the impression that when a Buddhist dies, they may enter into a number of states...not all of which are easy, free, and beautiful. How does a Buddhist mourner overcome the uncertainty of their loved-one's state of being?

Thanks,
Amanda






Answer -
Hi Amanda
Thanks for your follow-up.

I see what you means by "sunny"  now. thanks for this.

I guess some christians believe in heaven, some in hell, some in purgatory. but heaven is the comforting destination. some christians such as you propose
believe "sunny" heaven is the destination. this does
sound comforting!

What you say is true about Buddhism. Buddhism and Hinduism for that matter is not a one life deal. They believe in many lives.
Beings are born and die and born again in different states. I am told that some early versions of christianity
also believed in rebirth but I dont know the details.

So I guess one important distinction between Buddhism and Christianity and Buddhism is this multiple rebirths and the uncertainity of what the next life holds.The other
is the belief that "sunny" heaven is the final goal.

One of the important contemplations that buddhists do is the contemplation of the nature of death, impermanence and the uncertainity of  rebirths. The Buddha said that beings suffer through many lives being driven by the winds of karma  (cause and effect) that took them from life after life. Some of these lives
might be good, some might not be good. Sometimes beings might be born as humans, sometimes in heaven. But even heaven fades and dies according to Buddhist ideas.

The only liberation from the circle of life and death is really seeing the truth of the matter by using meditation to open ones true wisdom mind. Complete and perfect
enlightenment. WHat is this like? Is it it sunny? are there
nice pagodas is there heavenly music? No none of these.
It is beyond concepts, beyond words, transcendental and it
would be impossible to say anything about it. thats
why Buddhists dont advocate any idea about heaven.

You ask about mourners and how they can feel good about those who have died.Buddhists would think that connections
can continue to exist with those who have seemingly died. these connections if based on true love survive death and rebirth. Life and death is illusory, like a big dance.
Beings are confused and move like bees buzzing around in a pot.

Buddhists would also say that linking with truth is what will be "good". There seems nothing worse than people who lie around death. Some people might tell someone who is terminally ill that they will soon be better. They might say that once they have died they will be heaven in a sunny place with nice music. Well I guess if we are honest
we dont actually know!. So  Buddhists would say that it is best to be honest and true. The best friends anyone can have in life or death is a true friends.

Life and death are uncertain. The result beyond death is  a  mystery it is best to be honest about that. According to books written by great masters of meditation on the process of death with insight into the process then if someone has practised during
their life and goes into death with confidence then
death can be a great opportunity. Death can be a an opportunity to realise truth. If someone has
no confidence or spirtual path during life then the result
is uncertain. This is the truth according to Buddhism.

Hope this helps

Bodhicitta

Answer
Hi Amanda
Thanks for your feedback and further question.

There are many writings in Buddhism. The recordings of the word of the Buddha are called the Sutras. These are inspired writing of the truth. They are far more extensive than the Bible or the Torah. Even one Sutra called the FLower Ornament Sutra is bigger than the Bible.There are
also many commentaries written about the Sutras. There are also many writings and practises from later great meditators and teachers. So there is a great body of written material in the Buddhist tradition.

What I would say to you is that if you have a sincere wish to experience Meditation and Cotemplation - which is Buddhism then you need to find a tradition and a teacher from that tradition to instruct you.

Where are you based Amanda?

Bodhicitta